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US 5,845,936 AGranted
Collapsible outer column formed integral with brackets
AssigneeNsk Ltd.
InventorKiyoharu Higashino
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In order to achieve the curtailment of costs by simplifying the manufacture of parts, the custody of parts and the assembling work, a vertically movable bracket of a tilt mechanism, a mounting bracket for mounting combination switches, and a cylinder bracket of a steering lock mechanism are all formed integrally with an outer column. Also, when the tilt mechanism is omitted, a fixed bracket and the outer column are formed integrally with each other.
Claims11
A shock absorbing steering column comprising:
- an outer column, an inner column inserted in said outer column, and at least a first bracket fixed to an outer peripheral surface of said outer column,
- wherein said outer column and said bracket are integrally formed of a non-ferrous material, said outer column and said inner column are strongly fitted together through axially extending radial projections that are provided on one of said outer column and said inner column and that engage the other column to produce a resilient deformation, and said outer column and said inner column are spaced from one another at regions between said projections by substantially a radial thickness of said projections, such that said outer column and said inner column are relatively axially displaceable only when a strong force in an axial direction is applied thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.